By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Longtime Berta Cabaza Middle School teacher Sandra Tumberlinson was arraigned Thursday morning on class “C” misdemeanor charges of “assault by physical contact” – allegations which stem from an early October incident involving a student.
According to an affidavit of complaint obtained by the News via an open records request and filed with Precinct 3 Justice of Peace David Garza’s office, the BC student in question alleges that Tumberlinson grabbed his left forearm (applying pressure) on Oct. 11 and did so in a manner in which the longtime educator “should have reasonably believed that the said victim… would regard the contact as offensive and provocative.”
Then, an affidavit for warrant of arrest and detention filed by the alleged victim’s mother reads that Tumberlinson allegedly grabbed the boy’s arm and pulled him towards her while he was walking to his third period class with his friends.
In a signed statement made by Tumberlinson on Oct. 18, she claimed to have “gently” touched his backpack and said, “come with me” to the principal’s office – this as a result of what she believed was the student’s violation of the school’s hair policy. “The method I used to guide him was not made in an offensive or provocative manner,” Tumberlinson’s statement read after further stating that the principal’s secretary “agreed the hair style was in violation of school district policy.”
A summons was then issued Monday, Oct. 24 for Tumberlinson to appear before Garza on Thursday; the judge said this is done in order to give the accused an opportunity to appear rather than be placed under arrest.
Tumberlinson reportedly plead not guilty during the arraignment; in the meantime, a pre-trial hearing has yet to be scheduled, according to the judge’s office.
Meanwhile, officials with San Benito CISD have released the following statement: “We take these allegations very seriously, and as such, the San Benito CISD is reviewing these allegations. The issue involves a personnel matter, therefore, the district cannot disclose any further details at this time.”
Attempts by the News to gain comment from Tumberlinson were unsuccessful as of 4:47 p.m.
Pick up a copy of the Oct. 30 weekend edition of the San Benito News for an exclusive update on this story.
6 comments
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This is ridiculous! Mrs. Tumberlinson is a wonderful educator who was doing her job. The student was in violation of the dress code policy and now SHE is getting charges filed against her? The parents are clearly circumventing the issue. The father of this child is a member of the school board. Shouldn’t he know the student policy? This is actually alarming! He is in charge of making important and educated decisions for our school district, and he is attacking an educator who is merely trying to enforce the policy that he himself is a representative of. His motives are clearly political. A member of the school board is willing to destroy the career of a great teacher and member of the community in order to secure his spot on the board.
It is about time S.T. had her day. Maybe she will stop running Berta Cabaza with that iron fist. That lady has stopped that campus from being a top school for years. She will be kicking herself now for not retiring last year. She has been teaching for 200 years. It is time that SBCISD start putting in new blood.
OMG
It is called IGNORANCE when people assume and accuse before hearing and seeing the facts!
Why would Judge David Garza even take this case? And to go as far and arraign Mrs. Tumberlinson? What about the surveyllance tapes? Would he had arraigned her if her name was Sandra Sanchez? I don’t think so! And why is the media not saying who the parents of this brat are??? The student is the son of a new school board member…SAY IT LIKE IT IS!! Seems to me Mrs. Tumberslinson was doing her job. The student displays an inappropriate hair-cut to school and now is awarded for it. Give me a break! They should be thanking Mrs. Tumberlinson NOT FILING CHARGES AGAINST HER! The nerve of these people!! Reminds of me of my old neighborhood El Jardin! This is all political! Shame on you Judge Garza!
I cannot believe the parents of this kid would press charges on the teacher! Instead, they should be teaching their kid to obey the rules! Plain and simple! Parents should stop blaming teachers for their failure to discipline their kids. This is a slap in the face to all teachers. Word is that the kid is the son of one of the new school board members. I know Mrs. Tumberlinson is the wife of my former high school principal Bob Tumberlinson. She was the best math teacher I ever had when I was in B.C. This is all political in an effort to ruin a good teacher’s reputation and win elections. Shame! Shame! Shame!